Nicolas Vallet

1583-1642

Born in France in the town of Corbeny half way between the cathedral cities of Laon and Reims in northern France Nicolas was born in 1583 at a time of religious warfare across France. Only with the religious settlement of Henri IV in 1593 did some semblance of normality return to the kingdom.

Little is known of his early life though he clearly had a musical education and had become a talented lute player in his 20s.

Being a Huguenot from a Huguenot family became increasingly uncomfortable for Nicolas following the assassination of Henri IV in 1610. France was becoming ever more virulently Catholic as Cardinal Richelieu unpicked the religious settlements of Henri IV and the boy King Louis XIII, placidly went along with it.

Life grew ever more uncomfortable for Vallet’s family. Northern France was in any case a Catholic stronghold and in 1613 he fled to the Protestant Dutch Republic settling in Amsterdam.

Here he was sufficiently talented to support himself as a jobbing musician. Within twoi years he had established himself as a composer, lute teacher and owner of a dance school.

That he was already a talented player by the time he fled France is clear from the publication in 1615 of his Le Secret des Muses.

A combination of compositions for the lute and a teaching guide for players of the 10-string lute.

Other religious compositions followed, Psalms of David in 1616, a further 21 Psalms arranged for the violin and the lute in 1619, Apollinis süsse Leyer for violin and bass and in 1622 Regia Pietas.

His biography is as you see at best sketchy and there is some uncertainty as to the date and cause of his death.